Ask Annie

Aug. 18, 2004

An "Oldie but Goodie" Ask Annie column while Annie's computer is being repaired:

Dear Readers,

Or should I say, "DEER Readers?" Remember our ongoing discussion last summer about methods to keep deer and elk out of gardens? That subject is still popping up, and the motion-detecting water spraying scarecrow is still ranking the number one deterrent, though some readers have said it was not cheap.

Another topic I've had e-mails on is the lack of reality in department store inventories as far as Washington's weather. One mother was disgusted with the shortage of choices of pants for little girls. Okay, I'm that one mother. Why, as soon as Christmas is over, must the stores stock summer clothes as if we live in California? We have months and months of cool weather after that, even cloudy, chilly days in the summer, yet the racks are full of fluffy little shorts and capri pants without a decent pair of long legged pants to be found. And in a few weeks, though August and September are our hottest months, all the summer clothes will be whipped out of the stores and school clothes and winter coats will be displayed. I am not organized well enough to shop for what I'll want in November in the summer. And I know I'm not alone in this. Another woman (not me this time,) needed to buy a young man's long sleeved dress shirt in July. This should be a staple in the stores, considering all the graduation ceremonies and weddings that take place in the summer, but no. I wish those in charge of inventory would wake up and smell the rain. It's very frustrating. Let's all clip out this column and take it shopping with us, discreetly dropping it in dressing rooms, on clothing department counters, etc., and see if we can start a little revolution.

Annie

Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328

E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com

Past Ask Annies:

Aug. 18, 2004 Repeat June 30, 2003: Deer sprinkler and stores don't stock clothes for Washington weather

Aug. 11, 2004 Adjusting to the loss of loved ones and appreciating the family we have.

Aug. 4, 2004 Mom Was Right About The Guy & Reply to a Critic Of Proud To Be An American

July 28, 2004 Go See and Enjoy Your Family

July 21, 2004 Readers Suggest Solutions to Doting Wife

July 14, 2004 Wife Dotes on Husband After Retirement

July 7, 2004 Canadians Think Americans Are Too Proud

June 30, 2004 Annie Column "Trivial?" plus More Supporting Parents

June 23, 2004 Repeat: Packwood Flea Marts

June 16, 2004 Doesn't Want to Marry Older Guy

June 9, 2004 Rented to Friend's Kids

June 2, 2004 Daughter Reluctant to Help Brother Support Parents

May 26, 2004 Littering

May 12 & 19, 2004 Fellow Worker Opposes Birthday Holidays and Why Do Bad Things Happen to Good People

May 5, 2004 Strife While Building a House

Apr. 28, 2004 Blessings in a Physically Challenged Child Hunting Easter Eggs

Apr. 21, 2004 Pushy people who keep telling us, "You should..."

Apr. 14, 2004 Abusive Dad, Discourteous Telephoning

Apr. 7, 2004 Guilty About Inadequately Reciprocating to Wonderful Giving Friend

Mar. 31, 2004 Kids Selling Cookies

Mar. 24, 2004 Big Girl Wants to Avoid Brother's Fancy Wedding

Mar. 17, 2004 New Manager Getting Gifts from Subordinate?

Mar. 10, 2004 Loaned Money to Roommate

Mar. 3, 2004 Complaining about Boring Older Peoples' Talk

Feb. 25, 2004 Give Kid's Items to Food Bank

Feb. 18, 2004 Forwarded and Criticized Attachment Then Found Out It Was Written By The Sender, A Friend

Feb. 11, 2004 Messy Roommate

Feb. 4, 2004 Son a moron? No!

Jan. 28, 2004 Bad Phone Manners

Jan. 21, 2004 Avoid Church Because of Flu?

Jan. 14, 2004 Boyfriend Breakup But Gift, Also Relative Tells Private Life

Jan. 7, 2004 Master Tinseller

Dec. 24, 2003 Memories of Good Parents

Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?

Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers

Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays

Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates

Nov. 19, 2003 Mom Feels Daughter Doesn't Change Baby Diaper Quickly Enough, also Donate Pet Food and Hygiene Items to Food Bank

Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife

Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement

Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?

Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?

Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness

Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30

Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner

Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive

Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay

Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk

Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers

Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense

Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness

Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints

Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work

July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes

July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too

July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice

July 9, 2003 Camper Littering

July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler

June 25, 2003 Library Newsletter Omitted Packwood Library

June 18, 2003 Thank Troops for Freedom